PRISON POPULATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22224, 26 September 1935, Page 13

PRISON POPULATION

DECLINE CONTINUES

FEWER YOUNG OFFENDERS REPORT BY DEPARTMENT [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] % WELLINGTON, Wednesday A continuation of the decline in the number of persons committed to prison is noted in the annual report of the Prisons Department for the year ended March 31, which was presented to Parliament to-day by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe. Since 1931 there has been a decrease of 29 per cent and last year 558 fewer persons went to prison than in the previous year. The daily average of persons in custody throughout New Zealand in 1934 was 13G0, the lowest for many years. The number of persons dealt with during the year was 2376, or 355 fewer than during the previous year. The ratio of offenders to 10,000 of population was 15.33, compared with 17.75 in 1933 and 22.29 in 1932. "It has been stated," says the report, "that the Dominion has a prison population three or lour times m excess of that of England, but the latest English statistics show the ratio of prisoners as 12.1 to 10,000, so that the disparity, if any, taking into account different methods of dealing with offenders, is not very groat." Incidence of Serious Crime There has been during the past year a diminution of 188 in the number of New Zealand-born (European) prisoners and a drop of 42 in respect of Maori prisoners, while there has been a further falling off in crimes committed by young offenders. Reference is made to the comparatively small proportion of prisoners who received substantial sentences, and the conclusion is drawn that the incidence of serious crime in the Dominion is not wide.

Dealing with the occurrence of homicides, the report says: "On account of the press publicity given to capital offences and the intense public interest aroused in connection with certain recent murder trials, an impression has been created in certain quarters that, tho crime of murder is on the increase in the Dominion. Tho number of persons indicted for murder during the year, however, was one less than for the year 19.'3-' i and three less than for 1932. Only one person was sentenced to death during 1934 and the sentenco was given effect to." The Borstal System

In reference to the Borstal system, the report states that the number of offenders committed to these institutions during the year was tho smallest since 1925. It is also pointed out that of the 4555 young men who have passed through tho Borstal institutions since they were established only 16 per cent have again been convicted. Only 11 per cent of tho girls who have been committed to Point Halswell have reappeared in the Courts.

The net expenditure per head on prisoners in gaols throughout the Dominion was £59 13s, the total net amount spent on their maintenance being £77,242.

THE EXCHANGE RATE MEMBER'S SUGGESTION INTERVENTION BY SPEAKER [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A suggestion by Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Independent—Eden) that certain people had derived inordinate benefit from tho raising of tho exchange rate through hrfving privileged information beforehand was ruled out of order by the Speaker in tho House of Representatives to-day. The matter arose when Mr. Stallworthy was giving notice of a question to the Primo Minister, Mr. Forbes, regarding tho possibility of a full investigation into the exchange rate. Mr. Stallworthy said he desired to ask the Prime Minister whether he would set up a Royal Commission to investigate and report on tho policy, incidence and administration of the high rate of exchange. At the words "Royal Commission" members on both sides of tho House united in crying: "What, another?" After giving the order of reference, Mr. Stallworthy proceeded to ask for an inquiry regarding "individuals and companies who received inordinate benefit at the raising of the rate by having privileged information." He was sharply called to order by the Speaker, Avho said ho doubted whether Mr. Stallworthy could proceed on those lines. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, thep rose and submitted that the last point was quite out of order. "It raises the point that somebody must have had prior information," Mr. Coates said, " which, of course, is quite contrary to fact."

The Speaker said he could not allow notice of the question to be given. He suggested that Mr. Stalhvorthy might introduce it in some other form.